Remains Cautious of Allowance for Frack Waste and Inter-Basin Water Transfers

Newtown, PA (Sept. 13, 2017) – PennFuture and Conservation Voters of PA were present at today’s business meeting of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) where the Commission voted to approve a resolution requiring the agency to promulgate regulations that will include prohibitions on horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing extraction methods, commonly known as “fracking,” within the Basin.

However, the resolution directs DRBC to produce regulations allowing for the storage, treatment, disposal and discharge of highly contaminated wastewater, as well as inter-basin water and wastewater transfers, which raises serious concerns.

“Given the extreme risks to the environment and the water quality of the Delaware River Basin, we fully support DRBC’s proposed ban on fracking within the Basin,” said PennFuture Staff Attorney Abby Jones. “However, the devil will be in the details of the forthcoming DRBC regulations. The risk to the critical Special Protection Waters in the Basin from frack wastewater and inter-basin water transfers can be just as great, if not more so, than the fracking operations themselves. PennFuture will carefully review the proposed regulations to ensure that DRBC is complying with its mandate to protect the Delaware River.”

“We are grateful to Governor Wolf for fulfilling his campaign pledge by protecting the drinking water of millions of Pennsylvanians and supporting this move," said Josh McNeil, Executive Director of Conservation Voters of PA. “We look forward to continuing our work with him to protect people throughout the rest of the Commonwealth.”

PennFuture is leading the transition to a clean energy economy in Pennsylvania and beyond. We are protecting our air, water and land, and empowering citizens to build sustainable communities for future generations. For more information, visit www.pennfuture.org.

Contact: Stephanie Rex

Director of Communications

412.456.2372

rex@pennfuture.org

PennFuture is the independent, nonpartisan voice leading the transition to a clean energy economy in Pennsylvania and beyond.